Timing of gamma-ray pulsars: search in seven - parametric space

Abstract

Timing of Geminga gamma-ray pulsar is done using data of COS B and EGRET. It is shown, that errors in angular coordinates of sources similar to Geminga strongly influence a determination of $\ddot ν$, so that at angular precision less then $10^{-3}$ arc sec determination of the value of $\ddot ν$ by means of criterion gives error more then $100 %$. Attempt have been done to improve coordinates of a gamma-ray pulsar using timing analysis. In addition to search of $ν$, $\dotν$ and $\ddotν$, a technique is first developed permitting search of two angular coordinates, absolute speed value and direction of a proper motion. In that way timing of gamma-ray pulsars gives amount of information compatible with radiopulsars, but using of real data gives much poorer precision. In gamma-ray sources with rare pulses the periodicity criteria are quite different from the ones in radio region. Data on the coordinates and proper motion of Geminga, obtained from timing studies, do not contradict inside the errors to its identification with $G''$ star and its proper motion. These errors are larger then ones in optical measurements, but are smaller then corresponding errors in X-ray and $γ$-ray data. Estimations of the gamma-ray pulsar coordinates and its proper motion could be obtained independently on its optical or radio component, and are available in their absence.